Civil Aircraft Design Priorities: Air Quality? Climate Change? Noise?

Abstract

A variety of related questions is posed. Are the right priorities for future aircraft design being set now? New civil aircraft types could be ‘silent’, ie make much less noise than current types. They could be ‘green’, ie safeguard the environment. Is silent as important as green? The crucial answer is that future aircraft design should focus on substantial reductions on climate change impact. The air quality targets proposed by the ’Sustainable Aviation’ initiative appear very ambitious: they should be pursued only to the extent that they do not affect improved fuel efficiency and reduced climate-changing emissions. Good progress has already been made on the aircraft noise targets proposed by the Sustainable Aviation’ initiative, but again they should be pursued only to the extent that they do not affect improved fuel efficiency and reduced climate-changing emissions. The financial case for designing to reduce aircraft noise in order to deliver novel financial benefits, eg increase airport flights at night and/or relocate airports, is weak.